Seat belt height adjuster system and method

ABSTRACT

A system includes a seat belt height adjuster, a seat belt retractor includes a payout sensor, and a seat. The seat includes a seat position sensor and a weight sensor configured to measure a weight of an occupant of the seat. The system includes a control module in communication with the payout sensor, the seat position sensor, and the weight sensor. The control module is programmed to calculate a size of the occupant based at least on the payout and the seat position. The control module is programmed to adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster based at least on the size and weight of the occupant.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles include retractable seat belts to retain occupants in seats.The seat belt may include an end fixed to a component of the vehicle,such as a pillar of the vehicle. The other end of the seat belt may beengaged with a retractor that is fixed relative to the seat. A D-ring ismounted to the pillar of the vehicle and supports the seat belt atshoulder level of the occupant.

The position of the D-ring relative to the occupant may affect theoperation of the seat belt and, as such, it is desirable to properlyposition the D-ring relative to the operator. The D-ring may bevertically adjustable along the pillar to accommodate varying shoulderheights of different occupants. For example, the D-ring may be manuallyadjustable. A mechanical feature may be releasably fixed between theD-ring and the pillar and may be released by the occupant to adjust theD-ring along the pillar.

Occupants may not adjust the position of the D-ring along the pillar.This may be for a variety of reasons, such as, because the D-ring is outof sight of the occupant, because the occupant is unaware that theposition of the D-ring affects operation of the seat belt, because theoccupant is busy and chooses not to take the time to adjust the D-ring,and/or because the occupant is unaware that a previous occupant changedthe position of the D-ring.

Accordingly, there remains an opportunity to develop a system thatencourages proper positioning of the D-ring relative to the occupant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a portion of a vehicle including a pillarand a seat belt assembly coupled to the pillar.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the vehicle including a seat, aninstrument panel, and a steering column, with a driver seated in theseat.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a first embodiment of a seat belt heightadjuster system.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of a second embodiment of the seat belt heightadjuster system.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like partsthroughout the several views, a system 10 for a vehicle 12 includes aseat belt height adjuster 14 and a sensor for detecting at least onefeature of an occupant of a seat 48 of the vehicle 12, i.e., a driver 80in a driver seat. The system 10 includes a control module, e.g., arestraints control module 16, a body control module 18, or a heightadjustment module (not shown), programmed to adjust a position of theseat belt height adjuster 14 based on the measured feature of the driver80. A first embodiment of the system 10 is shown, for example, in FIGS.2-4. As set forth further below, a second embodiment of the system 10 isshown, for example, in FIGS. 5-6. Common numerals are used herein torefer to common elements in the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 1 includes features common to both the first embodiment of FIGS.2-4 and the second embodiment of FIGS. 5-6. FIG. 1 shows a pillar 20 ofthe vehicle 12, e.g., the B-pillar 20. The seat belt height adjuster 14may be fixed to the pillar 20, as shown in FIG. 1. The seat belt heightadjuster 14 may be mounted to the pillar 20 in any suitable manner,e.g., fasteners as shown in FIG. 1, and/or welding, etc. Specifically,the seat belt height adjuster 14 may include a base 22 mounted to thepillar 20.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the seat belt height adjuster 14 mayinclude a seat belt ring 24, also referred to as a D-ring, adjustablycoupled to the base 22. For example, the seat belt height adjuster 14may include a linear actuator 26 between the base 22 and the seat beltring 24. The linear actuator 26 may be of any suitable type, such as,mechanical, electro-mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, piezoelectric,etc.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the linear actuator 26 includes a leadscrew 28 and a nut 30 threadedly engaged with the lead screw 28. The nut30 is fixed to the seat belt ring 24. A motor 32 is supported on thebase and supports the lead screw 28. The motor 32 rotates the screw tomove the nut 30 and the seat belt ring 24 along the lead screw 28. Themotor 32 is in communication with the restraints control module 16and/or the body control module 18 and the restraints control module 16and/or the body control module 18 controls the rotation of the motor 32,as set forth further below. The linear actuator 26 may alternativelyinclude a rack and pinion gear, a worm gear, etc. The motor 32 may beany suitable type of motor.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle 12 includes a trim panel34 fixed to the pillar 20, e.g., with mechanical fasteners (not shown).The trim panel 34 defines a slot 36 extending generally vertically. Theseat belt ring 24 and/or the nut 30 extends through the slot 36 andrides along the slot 36 as the lead screw 28 rotates. In other words,the slot 36 limits movement of the seat belt ring 24 to linear movementalong the slot 36 such that rotational movement of the lead screw 28 istranslated into linear movement of the seat belt ring 24 along the slot36. The trim panel 34 may be plastic, vinyl, and/or any suitablematerial. The trim panel 34 may define a class-A surface, i.e., asurface specifically manufactured to have a high quality, finishedaesthetic appearance free of blemishes. The class-A surface may have anysuitable surface texture. The trim panel 34 may include a reinforcingfeature (not shown) along the slot 36 to interact with the seat beltring 24 and/or the nut 30. A cover may be disposed on at least a portionof the seat belt ring 24.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle 12 includes a seat beltassembly 38. The seat belt assembly 38 includes a seat belt 40 and aretractor 42 retractably receiving the seat belt 40. The seat belt 40may be paid out of the retractor 42, i.e., extended from the retractor42, by pulling the seat belt 40 from the retractor 42. In other words,payout of the seat belt 40 is the length of seat belt 40 pulled from theretractor 42. The retractor 42 is spring-loaded, such that the seat belt40 is automatically retracted into the retractor 42 when released.

The seat belt 40 extends from a first end engaged with the retractor 42and second end 44 fixed to the vehicle 12, e.g., fixed to the pillar 20.The second end 44 may be fixed to the pillar 20 in any suitable fashion.The seat belt 40 is supported on the seat belt ring 24 between the firstend and the second 44 end to position the seat belt 40 across theshoulder of the driver 80. The seat belt assembly 38 included a clip 46that is selectively engageable with a buckle fixed to the vehicle 12,e.g., to a seat 48 of the vehicle 12, to fasten the driver 80 to theseat 48.

The seat 48 of the vehicle 12 is disposed adjacent the pillar 20 of thevehicle 12 and in front of an instrument panel 50 (shown in FIG. 2). Asshown in FIG. 2, the seat 48 includes a seat bottom 52 mounted to afloor 54 of the vehicle 12 and a seat back 56 mounted to and extendingupwardly from the seat bottom 52. The seat bottom 52 is moveable in afore-aft direction HD relative to the floor 54 and the instrument panel50. The seat bottom 52 may be movably mounted to the floor 54 in anysuitable fashion, e.g., a base mounted to tracks, rails, etc.

The seat back 56 is pivotably mounted to the seat bottom 52. The seatback 56 may be selectively pivoted about the seat bottom 52, e.g.,reclined relative to the seat bottom 52, to a selected angle A.

The instrument panel 50 may include an instrument display panel 58,which displays information such as vehicle 12 operation information,entertainment information, etc. The instrument display panel 58 may belocated on any location of the instrument panel 50. An instrumentdisplay panel 58 may also be located at positions in the vehicle 12other than the instrument panel 50.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4, in the first embodiment of the system 10,an eye sensor 60 is configured to determine eye location L of the driver80 of the vehicle 12. As set forth further below, the system 10 adjuststhe position of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based on the eyelocation L.

With reference to FIG. 3, the eye sensor 60 may be connected to a drivermonitoring control module 62, which may be connected to a communicationbus 64, such as a controller area network (CAN) bus, of the vehicle 12.As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of modules are connected to thecommunication bus 64. Each module connected to the communication bus 64may communicate with each other through the communication bus 64.

As set forth above, the eye sensor 60 is configured to determine the eyelocation L of the driver 80. As shown in FIG. 2, the eye sensor 60 maybe mounted to the instrument panel 50 in a position to detect the eyelocation L. The eye sensor 60 may include a charge-coupled device (CCD)camera including infrared light emitting diode (LED) detectorsconfigured to detect eye location L. As shown in FIG. 2, the eye sensor60 may determine the distance DE between the eye sensor 60 and the eyelocation L and may determine the angle AE at the eye sensor 60 betweenhorizontal H and the eye location L. The eye sensor 60 may,alternatively, be of any suitable configuration.

One of the modules connected to the communications bus 64 is programmedto adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based at leaston eye location L. For example, with reference to FIG. 3, the restraintscontrol module 16 is connected to the communication bus 64 and is incommunication with the eye sensor 60 through the communication bus 64 toreceive information corresponding to the eye location L measured by theeye sensor 60. The seat belt height adjuster 14 is connected to therestraints control module 16. In this configuration, the restraintscontrol module 16 may be programmed to adjust a position of the seatbelt height adjuster 14 based at least on the eye location L.Specifically, with reference to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, therestraints control module 16 may programmed to control the motor 32 torotate the lead screw 28 to adjust the position of the seat belt heightadjuster 14. Alternatively, another module, such as the drivermonitoring control module 62 or the body control module 18, may beprogrammed to adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster 14based at least one eye location L, e.g., to control the motor 32 torotate the lead screw 28 to adjust the position of the seat belt heightadjuster 14.

As another example, not shown in the Figures, the seat belt heightadjuster 14 may be connected to the body control module 18, in whichcase the body control module 18 may be programmed to adjust a positionof the seat belt height adjuster 14 based at least on the eye locationL. As another example, the seat belt height adjuster 14 may be connectedto a height adjustment module (not shown), which may be connected to thecommunication bus 64. The height adjustment module may be dedicated tocontrolling the seat belt height adjuster 14. In such an example, theheight adjustment module may be programmed to adjust a position of theseat belt height adjuster 14 based at least on the eye location L.

As set forth above, the restraints control module 16 is programmed toadjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based at least onthe eye location L. In addition to the eye location L, the restraintscontrol module 16 (or alternatively the body control module 18 or theheight adjustment module) may be programmed to adjust the position ofthe seat belt height adjuster 14 based on the seat position (such as thefore-aft position along fore-aft direction HD, the vertical position inthe vertical direction VD, and/or the reclining position about angle A)and/or seat belt payout.

Specifically, with reference to FIG. 3, the system 10 may include beltsensors in communication with the restraints control module 16. The beltsensors may include at least a payout sensor 68. The payout sensor 68senses the payout of the seat belt relative to the retractor 42. Therestraints control module 16 (or alternatively the body control module18 or the height adjustment module) may be programmed to adjust theposition of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based at least oninformation from the payout sensor 68.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the system 10 may include at leastone seat sensor. The seat sensor is configured to determine a positionof the seat of the vehicle 12 relative to the floor. Specifically, seatsensors may include a fore-aft position sensor 68 configured to measurethe for-aft position, i.e., horizontal position, of the seat bottom 52relative to the floor 54, a vertical position sensor 70 configured tomeasure the vertical position of the seat bottom 52 relative to thefloor 54, and/or a reclining sensor 72 configured to measure thereclining angle A between the seat back 56 and the seat bottom 52.

The seat sensors, e.g., the fore-aft position sensor 68, the verticalposition sensor 70, and the reclining sensor 72, may be connected to abody control module 18. The body control module 18 may be connected tothe communication bus 64 and may be in communication with the restraintscontrol module 16 through the communication bus 64. The restraintscontrol module 16 (or alternatively the body control module 18 or theheight adjustment module) may be programmed to adjust the position ofthe seat belt height adjuster 14 based at least on information from theseat sensors.

The restraints control module 16 (or alternatively the body controlmodule 18 or the height adjustment module) may be programmed withanthropometric data and may be programmed to compare at least the eyelocation L with the anthropometric data to calculate the desiredposition of the seat belt height adjuster 14. Anthropometric dataincludes relative measurements of human bodies and can be used tocorrelate measurements of a human body with other dimensions of thehuman body. Anthropometric data may be stored in a table programmed inthe restraints control module 16. The restraints control module 16 (oralternatively the body control module 18 or the height adjustmentmodule) may be programmed to determine a regression model of theanthropometric data and the eye location L to calculate the desiredposition of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based on the regressionmodel. The position of the hip H and/or the position of the shoulder Sof the driver 80 may be calculated based on the anthropometric data andmay be used to calculate the desired position of the seat belt heightadjuster 14.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle 12 may include a steeringcolumn 74. The steering column 74 may be selectively adjustable relativeto the instrument panel 50 between various tilt positions and varioustelescopic positions, i.e., axial positions. With reference to FIG. 3,the steering column 74 may include a steering column position adjuster,e.g., a tilt adjuster 76 configured to adjust the tilt of the steeringcolumn 74 relative to the instrument panel 50, and/or a telescopicadjuster 78 configured to adjust the telescopic position of the steeringcolumn 74 relative to the instrument panel 50.

A steering control module 82 may be in communication with the eye sensor60 and the steering column 74 position adjuster, e.g., the tilt adjuster76 and/or the telescopic adjuster 78. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3,the eye sensor 60 may be in communication with the driver monitoringcontrol module 62, which is in communication with the steering controlmodule 82 through the communication bus 64.

The steering control module 82 may be programmed to adjust the positionof the steering column 74, e.g., the tilt position and/or the telescopicposition, based at least on the eye location L and/or the seat position(such as the fore-aft position, the vertical position, and/or thereclining position). Information about the eye location L and/or theseat position may be communicated to the steering control module 82 andthe steering control module 82 may instruct the tilt adjuster 76 and/orthe telescopic adjuster 78 to adjust the position of the steering column74 based on the eye location L and/or the seat position. Theinstructions for the tilt adjuster 76 and/or the telescopic adjuster 78may be generated in the restraints module, the driver monitoring controlmodule 62, the body control module 18, and/or the steering controlmodule 82. The instructions may be based on anthropometric data stored,for example, in the restraints control module 16, the driver monitoringcontrol module 62, the body control module 18, and/or the steeringcontrol module 82.

The tilt adjuster 76 and/or the telescopic adjuster 78 may each includea motor (not shown) connected to the steering control module 82. Thesteering control module 82 may control the motors to adjust the tiltadjuster 76 and the telescopic adjuster 78.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the system 10 may include a tiltsensor 84 configured to measure the tilt of the steering column 74relative to the instrument panel 50, and/or a telescopic position sensor86 configured to measure the telescopic position, i.e., the axialposition, of the steering column 74 relative to the instrument panel 50.The tilt sensor 84 and the telescopic position sensor 86 may be incommunication with the steering control module 82 and may providefeedback to the steering control module 82.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the system 10 may include an airbagcontrol module 88 in communication with the eye sensor 60. The airbagcontrol module 88 may be programmed to adjust operation of the airbagcontrol module 88 based at least on the eye location L and/or the seatposition (such as the fore-aft position, the vertical position, and/orthe reclining position). Information about the eye location L and/or theseat position may be communicated from the eye sensor 60 to the airbagcontrol module 88 through the communication bus 64 and the airbagcontrol module 88 may operate based on the information. For example, theoperation of the airbag control module 88 based on the information mayinclude inflation speed, inflation pressure, etc., of an airbag (notshown). The information may be based on anthropometric data stored, forexample, in the restraints control module 16, the driver monitoringcontrol module 62, the body control module 18, and/or the airbag controlmodule 88.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the system 10 may include an audiosystem 90 in communication with the eye sensor 60. The audio system 90may be programmed to adjust operation of the audio system 90 based atleast on the eye location L and/or the seat position (such as thefore-aft position, the vertical position, and/or the recliningposition). Information about the eye location L and/or the seat positionmay be communicated from the eye sensor 60 to the audio system 90through the communication bus 64 and the steering control module 82 mayoperate base on the information. For example, the operation of the audiosystem 90 based on the information include sound levels, sounddirections, surround sound settings, etc. The information may be basedon anthropometric data stored, for example, in the restraints controlmodule 16, the driver monitoring control module 62, the body controlmodule 18, and/or the audio system 90.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the system 10 may include aninstrument display panel 58 in communication with the eye sensor 60. Theinstrument display panel 58 may be programmed to adjust operation of theinstrument display panel 58 based at least on the eye location L and/orthe seat position (such as the fore-aft position, the vertical position,and/or the reclining position). Information about the eye location Land/or the seat position may be communicated to the instrument displaypanel 58 and the instrument display panel 58 may operate based on theinformation. For example, operation of the instrument display panel 58based on the information include display brightness, display angle,display content, etc. The information may be based on anthropometricdata stored, for example, in the restraints control module 16, thedriver monitoring control module 62, the body control module 18, and/orthe instrument display panel 58.

With reference to FIG. 4, an exemplary method of operating the firstembodiment of the system 10 is generally shown. As shown in block 110,the system 10 is turned on or off. For example, the vehicle 12 mayinclude a button, e.g., on the pillar 20, the seat belt height adjuster14, or elsewhere in the vehicle 12, that may turn the system 10 on oroff.

When turned off, the driver 80 may manually adjust the seat belt heightadjuster 14, as shown in block 112. For example, a button, switch, etc.,operable by the fingers of the driver 80, may be disposed on the seatbelt height adjuster 14 and may be in communication with the motor 32 toadjust the seat belt height adjuster 14. Alternatively, or in addition,a control may be disposed on a steering wheel, center console,instrument panel 50, etc., and may be in communication with the motor 32to adjust the seat belt height adjuster 14. In addition or thealternative to manually controlling the motor 32 to adjust the seat beltheight adjuster 14, the seat belt height adjuster 14 may include amechanical feature for adjusting the seat belt height adjuster 14.

As shown in block 114, if the system 10 is on, the method includessensing a triggering event before proceeding, e.g., before receiving themeasurement of the eye location L. The triggering event may be an eventthat occurs when the driver 80 is properly seated in the seat with theseat belt 40 fastened. For example, the triggering event may beignition/initial powering of the vehicle 12 communicated through thecommunication bus 64. As another example, the triggering event may bethe initial unlocking of doors of the vehicle 12, e.g., with a key fob,door keypad, etc. The triggering event may be sensed by any suitablecomponent of the system 10, e.g., the driver monitoring control module62, the restraints control module 16, the body control module 18, and/orthe height adjustment module.

As shown in block 116, the method includes receiving a measurement of aneye location L of a driver 80 of a vehicle 12. Specifically, when thetriggering event is sensed, the eye sensor 60 detects the eye location Lof the driver 80. The measurement of the eye location L may be received,for example, by the driver monitoring control module 62, the restraintscontrol module 16, the body control module 18, and/or the heightadjustment module.

As shown in block 118, the method includes receiving a measurement of aseat position and calculating the desired position based on themeasurement of the seat position. Specifically, when the triggeringevent is sensed, the seat sensors, e.g., the fore-aft position sensor68, the vertical position sensor 70, and/or the reclining sensor 72, maymeasure the position of the seat 48. The measurement of the seatposition may be received, for example, by the driver monitoring controlmodule 62, the restraints control module 16, the body control module 18,and/or the height adjustment module.

As shown in block 120, the method includes receiving a measurement ofthe payout of the seat belt 40. As set forth above, the payout sensor 68may measure the payout of the seat belt 40. When the triggering event issensed, the driver monitoring control module 62, the restraints controlmodule 16, the body control module 18, and/or the height adjustmentmodule may receive the measurement of the payout from the payout sensor68.

With continued reference to FIG. 4, as shown in block 122, the methodincludes calculating a desired position of a seat belt height adjuster14. Specifically, the method includes calculating the desired positionbased on eye location L, seat position, and/or payout of the seat belt40.

At least one of the driver monitoring control module 62, the restraintscontrol module 16, the body control module 18, and/or the heightadjustment module may calculate the desired location of the seat beltheight adjuster 14. For example, driver monitoring control module 62,the restraints control module 16, the body control module 18, and/or theheight adjustment module may use the anthropometric data along with theeye location L, seat position and/or seat belt payout, as referencedabove, to calculate the desired position of the seat belt heightadjuster 14. Specifically, the driver monitoring control module 62, therestraints control module 16, the body control module 18, and/or theheight adjustment module may determine a regression model ofanthropometric data and at least the eye location L, seat position,and/or payout, and calculating the desired position based on at leastthe regression model.

When the desired position of the seat belt height adjuster 14 isdetermined, the method includes instructing the seat belt heightadjuster 14 to move to the desired position, as shown in block 124. Forexample, the restraints control module 16 may instruct the motor 32 ofthe seat belt height adjuster 14 to move seat belt ring 24 to thedesired position. As shown in block 126, the driver 80 may manuallyadjust the seat belt height adjuster 14 after the seat belt heightadjuster 14 is adjusted to the desired position.

As shown in block 128, the method includes storing the desired positionof the seat belt height adjuster 14 in memory. For example, the memorymay be a component of a security system of the vehicle that rememberssettings for specific users, e.g., the Ford Motor Company MyKey® system.For example, the security system may include a key that allows access tothe vehicle 12 and turns on the vehicle 12, and the key may communicatewith the communication bus 64 to identify the driver 80 using the key.As such, various drivers 80 may each use a different key and, when thekey communicates with the communication bus 64, features of the vehicle12, such as the desired position of the seat belt height adjuster 14,may be automatically adjusted. The security system may record a historyof previous positions of the seat belt height adjuster 14 for a specifickey and may calculate a median position at which the seat belt heightadjuster 14 is adjusted when the key is used to access the vehicle 12.

As shown in block 130, the method may include instructing the steeringcolumn 74 position adjuster, e.g., the tilt adjuster 76 and/or thetelescopic adjuster 78, to adjust a position of a steering column 74based at least on the measurement of the eye location L, the seatposition, and/or payout of the seat belt 40. As shown in block 132, thedriver 80 may manually adjust the steering column 74 after the steeringcolumn 74 is adjusted to the desired position.

As shown in block 134, the method may include instructing an airbagcontrol module 88 to operate based at least on the measurement of theeye location L, the seat position, and/or the payout of the seat belt40.

As shown in block 136, the method may include instructing an audiosystem 90 to operate based at least on the measurement of the eyelocation L, the seat position, and/or the payout of the seat belt. Asshown in block 138, the driver 80 may manually adjust the audio system90 after the audio system 90 is automatically adjusted.

As shown in block 140, the method may include instructing an instrumentdisplay panel 58 to operate based at least on the measurement of the eyelocation L, the seat position, and/or the payout of the seat belt 40. Asshown in block 142, the driver 80 may manually adjust the instrumentdisplay panel 58 after the instrument display panel 58 is automaticallyadjusted.

With reference to FIGS. 5-6, in the second embodiment of the system 10,an eye sensor 60 is configured to determine eye location L of the driver80 of the vehicle 12. As set forth further below, the system 10 adjuststhe position of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based on the eyelocation L.

With reference to FIGS. 5-6, the second embodiment of the system 10adjusts the position of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based on asize, e.g., girth and/or height, and weight of the driver 80.Specifically, the second embodiment of the system 10 includes the seatbelt retractor 42 including the payout sensor 68 configured to measurepayout of a seat belt relative to the seat belt retractor 42. The seat48 includes the seat sensors, e.g., the fore-aft position sensor 68and/or the vertical position sensor 70, configured to measure the seatposition. The restraints control module 16 and/or the body controlmodule 18 may be programmed to calculate a size of the driver 80 basedat least on the payout and the seat position.

With reference to FIG. 5, the seat 48 may include a weight sensor 92configured to measure a weight of a driver 80 of the seat 48. Therestraints control module 16 and/or the body control module 18 may beprogrammed to adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster 14based at least on the size and weight of the driver 80.

Specifically, the restraints control module 16 and/or the body controlmodule 18 may be programmed with anthropometric data and may beprogrammed to compare at least the size and weight of the driver 80 withthe anthropometric data to calculate the desired position of the seatbelt height adjuster 14. Specifically, the restraints control module 16and/or the body control module 18 may be programmed to determine aregression model of the anthropometric data and the size, e.g., thegirth and/or height, and weight of the driver 80 and to calculate thedesired position of the seat belt height adjuster 14 based on theregression model.

The weight sensor 92 may be connected to the restraints control module16. The weight sensor 92 may measure the weight of the driver 80 andcommunicate the weight measurement to the restraints control module 16.The restraints control module 16 may communicate the weight measurementto the communication bus 64.

In addition to the payout and the seat position, the size of the driver80 may also be calculated based on at least the column position of thesteering column 74, e.g., the measurement of the tilt position from thetilt sensor 84 and/or the measurement of the telescopic position fromthe telescopic position sensor 86. Specifically, the restraints controlmodule 16 and/or the body control module 18 may be programmed tocalculate the size of the driver 80 based on at least the columnposition.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, the restraints control module 16and/or the body control module 18 may be programmed to adjust operationof the airbag control module 88, the audio system 90, and/or theinstrument display panel 58 based at least on the size and weight.

With reference to FIG. 6, an exemplary method of operating the secondembodiment of the system 10 is generally shown. The method includesreceiving a seat belt payout measurement (as shown in block 244),receiving a seat position measurement, e.g., the vertical position ofthe seat as shown in block 246 and/or the fore-aft position of the seatas shown in block 248, receiving a weight measurement of the driver 80as shown in block 250, and receiving a position measurement of thesteering column 74 as shown in block 252.

As shown in block 254, the method includes calculating the size of thedriver 80, e.g., the girth and height, based on at least the payout ofthe seat belt, the seat position, e.g., the vertical position and/or thefore-aft position, and/or the column position. Specifically, as setforth above, the restraints control module 16 and/or the body controlmodule 18 may be programmed with anthropometric data. The restraintscontrol module 16 and/or the body control module 18 may be programmed tocompare at least the payout, the seat position, and/or the columnposition with the anthropometric data to calculate the size of thedriver 80. For example, the restraints control module 16 and/or the bodycontrol module 18 may be programmed to determine a regression model ofthe anthropometric data and the payout, seat position, and/or columnposition to calculate the size of the driver 80.

As shown in block 256, the restraints control module 16 and/or the bodycontrol module 18 may be programmed to compare at least the size andweight of the driver 80 with the anthropometric data to calculate thedesired position of the seat belt height adjuster 14. The restraintscontrol module 16 and/or the body control module 18 may be programmed todetermine a regression model of the anthropometric data and the size andweight to calculate the desired position of the seat belt heightadjuster 14 based on the regression model. Based on this calculation,the restraints control module 16 and/or body control module 18 mayinstruct the seat belt height adjuster 14 to move to the desiredposition, as shown in block 258.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, the method includes instructing theairbag control module 88 to operate based on the size and weight of thedriver 80, instructing the audio system 90 to operate based on the sizeand weight of the driver 80 and/or instructing an instrument displaypanel 58 to operate based on the size and weight of the driver 80.

The first and second embodiment of the system 10 may include a camerasystem, e.g., an infrared camera system, configured to determine thelocation of the head of the driver 80. This location of the head may becommunicated to the communication bus 64 and at least one of themodules, e.g., the restraints control module 16, body control module 18,driver monitoring control module 62, and/or height adjustment module,may adjust the seat belt height adjuster 14 based at least on themeasurement of the location of the head. The location of the head may beused to calculate the desired position of the seat belt height adjuster14 in addition to the measurements discussed above, e.g., the eyelocation, seat position, steering column position, size of the driver,weight of the driver, etc. In addition to, or in the alternative to,determining the location of the head, the camera system may beconfigured to determine the location of any body part of the driver 80.

The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it isto be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended tobe in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Manymodifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible inlight of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a seat belt height adjuster;a seat belt retractor including a payout sensor configured to measurepayout of a seat belt relative to the seat belt retractor; a seatincluding a seat position sensor configured to measure a seat positionand a weight sensor configured to measure a weight of an occupant of theseat; and an electronic control module in communication with the payoutsensor, the seat position sensor, and the weight sensor and beingprogrammed to calculate a size of the occupant based at least on thepayout and the seat position; the electronic control module beingprogrammed to adjust a position of the seat belt height adjuster basedat least on the size and weight of the occupant.
 2. The system as setforth in claim 1 wherein the electronic control module is programmedwith anthropometric data and is programmed to compare at least the sizeand weight of the occupant with the anthropometric data to calculate theposition of the seat belt height adjuster.
 3. The system as set forth inclaim 2 wherein the electronic control module is programmed to determinea regression model of the anthropometric data and the size and weight ofthe occupant and to calculate the position of the seat belt heightadjuster based on the regression model.
 4. The system as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the size of the occupant calculated by the electroniccontrol module includes the girth and height of the occupant.
 5. Thesystem as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a steering columnincluding a column position sensor configured to measure a columnposition, and wherein the electronic control module is programmed tocalculate the size of the occupant based on at least the columnposition.
 6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seatposition sensor includes a fore-aft position sensor and a verticalposition sensor.
 7. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the seatbelt height adjuster includes seat belt ring, a motor in communicationwith the electronic control module, and a linear actuator disposedbetween the ring and the motor.
 8. The system as set forth in claim 1further comprising an electronic airbag module in communication with theelectronic control module, the electronic control module beingprogrammed to adjust operation of the electronic airbag module based atleast on the size and weight.
 9. The system as set forth in claim 1further comprising an audio system in communication with the electroniccontrol module, the electronic control module being programmed to adjustoperation of the audio system based at least on the size and weight. 10.The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an instrumentpanel display in communication with the electronic control module, theelectronic control module being programmed to adjust operation of theinstrument panel display based at least on the size and weight.
 11. Amethod comprising: receiving a seat belt payout measurement, a seatposition measurement, and a weight of the occupant; calculating a sizeof the occupant based on at least the payout and the seat position;calculating a desired position of a seat belt height adjuster based onat least the size and the weight of the occupant; and instructing theseat belt height adjuster to move to the desired position.
 12. Themethod as set forth in claim 11 further comprising determining aregression model of anthropometric data and at least the size and theweight of the occupant and calculating the desired position based on atleast the regression model.
 13. The method as set forth in claim 11wherein calculating the size of the occupant includes calculating atleast a girth and a height of the occupant.
 14. The method as set forthin claim 11 further comprising receiving a steering column positionmeasurement and calculating the size of the occupant based on at leastthe steering column position measurement.
 15. The method as set forth inclaim 11 wherein calculating the seat position includes calculating atleast a fore-aft position and a vertical position.
 16. The method as setforth in claim 11 further comprising sensing a triggering event beforereceiving the measurement of the eye location.
 17. The method as setforth in claim 11 further comprising storing the desired position inmemory.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 11 further comprisinginstructing an airbag module to operate based on the size and weight ofthe occupant.
 19. The method as set forth in claim 11 further comprisinginstructing an audio system to operate based on the size and weight ofthe occupant.
 20. The method as set forth in claim 11 further comprisinginstructing an instrument panel display to operate based on the size andweight of the occupant.